Calibrachoa plant named ‘Cal Peachy’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Cal Peachy’, characterized by its mounding and outwardly spreading to trailing plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and full plants; early and freely flowering habit; numerous peach-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘CAL PEACHY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa , botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Cal Peachy’.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Gilroy, Calif. The objective of the breeding programis to create new Calibrachoa cultivars with uniform plant habit andnumerous attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in August, 2004 in Gilroy, Calif. of the Calibrachoa sp.cultivar Cal Goldey, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,303, as thefemale, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp.identified as code number 1295, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Calibrachoa was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif. inApril, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa by vegetative cuttings in acontrolled environment in Gilroy, Calif. since April, 2005 has shownthat the unique features of this new Calibrachoa are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Cal Peachy has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Cal Peachy’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Cal Peachy’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa :

-   -   1. Mounding and outwardly spreading to trailing plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and full plants.    -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Numerous peach-colored flowers.    -   5. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent, thecultivar Cal Goldey. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants ofthe cultivar Cal Goldey in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have smaller and darker        green-colored leaves than plants of the cultivar Cal Goldey.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the cultivar Cal Goldey        differ in flower color as plants of the cultivar Cal Goldey have        gold-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants ofthe male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have a more prostrate plant        habit than plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have darker green-colored        leaves than plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flower earlier than plants of        the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the cultivarKLEC02004, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inHillscheid, Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plantsof the cultivar KLEC02004 in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more freely branching than        plants of the cultivar KLEC02004.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flowered earlier than plants of        the cultivar KLEC02004.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the cultivar KLEC02004        differed in flower color as flowers of plants of the cultivar        KLEC02004 did not have distinct red-colored centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Calibrachoa , showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Calibrachoa . The photograph comprises a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Cal Peachy’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Hillscheid, Germany under commercialpractice during the summer in an outdoor nursery. Plants used for thephotograph were grown in 15-cm containers for about 16 weeks. Plantsused for the description were grown in 25-cm hanging basket containersfor about seven months. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar Cal Peachy.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Calibrachoa sp. cultivar Cal            Goldey, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,303.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 1295, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—About 18 to 23 days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; color, close to 155D.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Mounding and outwardly spreading to            trailing plant habit. Freely branching habit with about 20            primary lateral branches each with about five to six            secondary lateral branches; full and dense plants. Vigorous            growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 10 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 43 cm to 46 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 25 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm to 3 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 1.8 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong; flexible.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to            trailing.        -   Texture.—Densely hirsute.        -   Color.—Close to 143C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 3.1 cm to 3.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.2 cm to 1.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic to lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Attenuate to acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Hirsute.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: Close to 137C to            137D. Developing foliage, lower surface: Close to 137D.            Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Close to 137A to            137B; venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded foliage, lower            surface: Close to 139D; venation, close to 145A.        -   Petioles.—Length:. About 2 mm to 4 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Hirsute; more on lower            surface. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers            arranged singly arising from upper leaf axils. Freely            flowering habit with usually about 150 flowers developing            per plant.        -   Flowers not persistent.—Flowers face upwards and outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa            initiate and develop flowers about eight to ten weeks after            planting. Plants flower continuously during the summer in            Hillscheid, Germany.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to            eight days on the plant.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.7 cm to 3 cm.        -   Flower length (height); About 2.5 cm to 2.7 cm.        -   Corolla tube length.—About 1.5 cm to 1.7 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Shape: Oblong to tubular. Length: About 2.3 cm            to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to 7 mm. Color: Close to 1A            to 1C; towards the apex, between 31D and 37B; fine lines,            close to N186A.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet; flowers star-shaped. Petal            shape: Roughly obovate. Petal apex: Weakly rounded or            truncate. Petal margin: Entire; weakly undulate. Petal            texture, upper surface: Papillose, glabrous; satiny. Petal            texture, lower surface: Hirsute along veins. Color: Petal,            when opening, upper surface: Close to either 29A or 37B;            towards the margins, close to 51B; towards the throat, close            to 46B. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to either            24C or 38B. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to            33D; towards the throat, close to 45A; venation, close to            between 37A and 38C. With development, color becoming closer            to either 29C or 36A; towards the throat, close to 43A.            Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to either 37D or            38D. Throat: Close to 20A. Tube: Close to between 11A and            162B.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five            sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About 1.5            cm to 1.6 cm. Sepal width: About 2.5 mm to 4 mm. Sepal            shape: Narrowly lanceolate. Sepal apex: Obtuse to rounded.            Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Densely hirsute. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 137A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.3 cm to 1.8 cm. Diameter: About            1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible. Texture:            Hirsute. Color: Close to 144C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: About            five per flower. Filament length: About 9 mm to 12 mm.            Filament diameter: Less than 1 mm. Filament color: Close to            150D. Anther shape: Reniform, two-parted. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 8B. Pistils: Quantity: One            per flower. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Style color: Close to            145D. Stigma shape: Ovate. Stigma color: Close to 145B.            Ovary color: Close to 145D.        -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 5° C. about 30° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Calibrachoa .

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Cal Peachy’ asillustrated and described.